5 Ways to Advance Your Professional Self Over the Holidays!

The holidays are my favorite time of the year.  In my family it's a mix of spending hours upon hours listening to old R&B Christmas songs, watching football, and devouring the best banana pudding the tri-state area has seen. Although this is great and I love it, by Friday, I'm ready for a little alone time to get back to myself, especially if I've been feeling a lull in my career.  Here are 5 things you can do to pull yourself out of the job lull this holiday:  

1. Participate in the conversations.  We have finally arrived at the ‘adult table’ so let’s adult!  No this does not only mean pouring a nice helping of Aunt Mae’s Merlot.  It means informing.  When asked what’s new, don’t dive into ‘how much it sucks that your boss is a micro manager and you hate going in everyday’.  That comes off to older generations as ungrateful and childish.  Don’t ruin this for yourself, you just got here.  Instead talk about what you’re looking for.  A simple, ‘I’m learning a lot, personally and professionally, but I’m looking for opportunities in X,Y,Z.  Just wanting an opportunity to continue growing’.  Someone may know someone who you can speak with, or if their anything like my family, ask more questions.  Honest questions you might need asked to help drive you in a direction you’ve only dreamt of.
2.   Update your LinkedIn.  LinkedIn is a great tool to look for positions, network with other individuals with similar interests, and to show case your work.  In resumes and cover letters you relate your skills to duties of the position, which means everything can’t fit on your resume.  LinkedIn is a great place to list your important work history giving a deeper employment history.  LinkedIN is great to use as a portfolio.  In your summary you can upload flyers, pictures of your work, and presentations you’ve created.  It’s a nice way for recruiters and employers to see your tangible work. For ways to increase your LinkedIN, visit my LinkedIN page for an example or visit the Pamela Vaughn written hubspot post 'How to Use LinkedIN' for more tips to fill out your profile.
3.  Update your master resume.  I suggest to everyone from college freshmen to 10 year professionals to create a master resume.  Your master resume should contain every professional position you’ve had with details about the projects and skills you acquired in the role.  This is very helpful when you want to apply for a position with a tailored resume; which is ALWAYS.  You just have to copy and paste to the right resume.  It also is a great way to see the multiple transferable skills you didn’t think you had.
4.  Make a Career Plan.  Research job titles and companies you would like to work for down the road.  Think about what matters to you.  Think about what members in the company have done to reach where they are.  Then think about your dream jobs duties and skills.  Use that info to create a list of skills and position titles you need to acquire to reach your dream job.  You don’t have to be detailed in dates, but be detailed in the skill sets needed and what types of jobs or volunteer experience you could utilize to gain that skill set.  Next time you’re job searching refer back to this list to make sure it aligns with your overall long term goals.
5. Relax & Recharge.  There has to be a point in the hustle when you rest.  The body needs to recharge and revitalize itself.  Take this holiday to do just that.  Turn off your computer, work phone and anything else work related.  Unplug and #OptOutside, do something to exercise other aspects of your brain and body.  Maybe watch a Christmas Story or The Incredibles or drive through your dream neighborhood.  Relax and reflect on where you are and if you’re headed in the right direction.  If the answer is no, consider your career plan and how to get back on track.  Talking with a Career Coach may be useful in this situation if you feel too far from your path.  

While creating your career plan and sitting in these times of reflection or recharging you may start to see patterns in your skills, the environments you do best in, or the things you do well naturally. I'd love to hear how are you advancing your professional self?


If you’re interested in a free 1 hour consultation regarding resume writing, networking, creating a career plan or anything else career related, contact me at kendrarlewis@gmail.com for scheduling. 

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